Overview

Overview

Divided into the Dutch-controlled St. Maarten and the French-ruled St. Martin, this 37-square-mile-island still manages to blend Dutch, French and Caribbean influences effortlessly. These distinct heritages each bring their own flair, whether you are looking to party like the French until dawn, take in a lively native dance show or sample Dutch-inspired cuisine. Made famous for its local airport with a landing area that barely clears the bright water, St. Martin has an endless variety of water sports, duty-free shopping, and plenty of festivals, markets, and traditions to savor on your trip.

Marriage Requirements

To marry in St. Maarten, birth certificates, IDs, and copies of proof of address are required. Divorce and death decrees are also required if applicable. Check with your Certified Destination Wedding Specialist for more details.

Travel Documents, Language & Currency

Travel Documents

Passports are required for visitors entering St. Maarten. If you are a citizen of the US, visit travel.state.gov for more information on travel documents needed. For Canadian travelers, visit travel.gc.ca for relevant travel information.

Language

English is the predominant language on the island; however, several other languages are also commonly spoken.

Currency

The Netherlands Antilles florin is the official currency, but the US dollar is widely accepted.

Climate & Beaches

Climate

The Island has a tropical monsoon climate with steady average temperatures throughout the year of 81 degrees F. The rainy season is August to December, while the dry season is from January to April. The island is subject to intense tropical storms from the late summer to early fall.

Beaches

St. Maarten is home to a number of beautiful beaches, with watersports by far the most popular way to enjoy them. Whether you want to windsurf, snorkel, sail or kayak, beaches like Mullet Bay, Orient Bay and Maho Beach are easy to enjoy.

Activities & Tourist Attractions

Activities

The island is known for its water sports, so be sure to schedule a surfing lesson, kayaking excursion, or yacht trip. The beaches are also great for people-watching, so feel free to camp out with a cold tropical drink and unwind (warning- the French side beaches are swimsuit optional). With some of the best duty-free shopping in the Caribbean, it’s also difficult to resist the great buys, whether you want to bargain at an open-air market or browse the expensive boutiques in Marigot.

Nightlife

At night, with a party-till-dawn European attitude, you will find plenty of casinos, discos and nightclubs.

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Disclaimer:

DestinationWeddings.com makes every effort to keep the travel information up to date on this website, however, resorts, wedding packages and laws do change and so we cannot guarantee that all information regarding rules, regulations, and marriage requirements at particular sites are completely accurate at the time of viewing. Before making marriage decisions on a particular destination, we highly recommend you speak with your specialist or wedding coordinator to verify rules at a particular destination before finalizing your travel plans.